The Fourth Orange

Shen Qiancheng woke up, her back still burning with pain. Every breath made the ache cling to her like a shadow that wouldn't let go.

After so many beatings, she still hadn't gotten used to the pain.

She struggled to sit up, grabbed her phone, and messaged someone to open the door. After a moment, she went out.

Soon, Xiao Wang's voice came from outside the door: "Miss, breakfast is ready."

Xiao Wang was the life assistant Shi Jianren had arranged for Shen Qiancheng. Knowing well Shen Qiancheng's terrible temper and that after kneeling in the study last night, her anger wouldn't subside by morning, Xiao Wang only dared to call out from behind the door.

Shen Qiancheng hid the items she had collected, then, recalling she'd eaten only a sandwich yesterday morning, felt a dull ache in her stomach. She got up slowly and replied, "Got it."

Xiao Wang acknowledged, and her footsteps gradually faded.

Shen Qiancheng rose, opened the door, returned to her room to wash up, had Xiao Wang apply medicine to her wounds, and then went to the dining table for breakfast.

The dining table was long. When she and Shi Jianren were forced to eat together, they sat at the two ends, as far apart as possible.

Shen Qiancheng clipped her long hair up with a shark clip, revealing her smooth forehead and earlobes. The high collar of her shirt concealed the mark left by the whip on her shoulder from the previous day.

On the table were two plates and a glass of soy milk.

Shen Qiancheng sat down gracefully, but upon seeing the greasy, golden youtiao on her plate, she couldn't help but frown.

The butler waiting nearby immediately noticed her displeasure. After last night's punishment, he didn't dare provoke this little mistress.

He quickly had the youtiao removed and said cautiously, "The kitchen also made xiaolongbao, shrimp dumplings, pumpkin congee, and such."

Shen Qiancheng said nothing, seeming to listen attentively. Once the butler finished listing the dishes, she picked up the soy milk, took a sip, and said flatly, "Xiaolongbao."

The butler sighed in relief—as long as she didn't make things difficult.

The xiaolongbao arrived at the table like a savior, still steaming hot.

Shen Qiancheng raised a hand, allowing a servant to take away the plate in front of her and replace it with the soft, jade-white dumplings.

The butler watched as Shen Qiancheng picked up her chopsticks and put a xiaolongbao into her mouth. The knot in his stomach finally loosened. He waved for the servant to leave.

Shen Qiancheng took a sip and, glancing around, frowned. "Has Father not returned yet?"

Last night, the CEO had given everyone the day off. When they returned in the morning, they learned the young lady was being punished in the study. As for where the CEO was, how would they know?

The butler thought for a moment and said cautiously, "The CEO might have gone to the company early this morning."

He wasn't sure if this answer would satisfy Shen Qiancheng.

Shen Qiancheng said indifferently, "Oh."

The butler was eager to end the conversation and nodded with a smile, getting through the anxious meal.

After breakfast, Shen Qiancheng, bored, returned to her room, sank into a handmade sofa, and gazed out at the unobstructed view.

The low hills were covered with crabapple trees. June was past their blooming season. Two months ago, when the crabapples were at their most vibrant, Shen Qiancheng had also stood by the window, watching the scenery.

The view was different, but the person was the same.

A knock came at the door. "Miss, your delivery has arrived."

"Oh, bring it in."

Xiao Wang came in carrying a bag. Shen Qiancheng glanced at it—the packaging was intact.

She opened it, took out the plush toy inside, and placed it by her bedside. She hugged it for a while, feeling sleepy, and simply lay down for a nap.

When she woke, it was already five in the afternoon. She picked up the rose-pink phone from the table and dialed a number.

"As for the marriage to Su Zeye, I can agree. But..."

Within half an hour, her door was knocked on again, and Xiao Wang's voice came through. "Miss, the CEO is back and waiting for you in the living room."

"Got it."

How eager was he? If it weren't for the fact that the Shen family home was the only villa on this mountain, Shen Qiancheng would have suspected that Shi Jianren and his mistress lived next door.

Shen Qiancheng went downstairs, phone in hand. Shi Jianren was dressed in a suit and tie, but the wristwatch that was usually on his arm was missing.

Shen Qiancheng sneered inwardly. He'd probably given it away to appease someone.

As soon as she sat down, Shi Jianren got straight to the point. "What are your conditions for marrying Su Zeye?"

Shen Qiancheng sneered again. A businessman through and through, always weighing pros and cons.

If the conditions she proposed were within his acceptable range, he could make promises.

Shen Qiancheng lifted her chin. "I need to go abroad for three years. I've already received an offer."

Shi Jianren's brows furrowed, and his hands instinctively clasped together—his habitual gesture when making decisions.

"It's not in the country. If I can't reach you in three years, who do I look for?"

Shen Qiancheng said, exasperated, "It's not like you're short of daughters. Whether you have me or not, it won't affect anything big. If you can't find me, just let those eager illegitimate daughters take my place. Send them to Korea and say my plastic surgery failed."

Besides, she wasn't even his daughter...

Shi Jianren's face changed. His sharp gaze fixed on Shen Qiancheng, as if to say she couldn't escape.

"Shen Qiancheng, from what I know, the major you've been admitted to is architecture. It's of no use to the Shen Corporation or to you. You took the national college entrance exam. With your ability, you could get into a top domestic university. Study some art major, and after graduation, marry Su Zeye and become the mistress of the Su family. That's much better than running off to a foreign country for three years."

He spoke as if he were thinking for her, and Shen Qiancheng fought the urge to roll her eyes. Without mincing words, she said, "Stop the nonsense. Are you in or not? If not, I'll keep making trouble. I've already dared to kill someone; who I kill next doesn't matter. Su Zeye is also an option."

Shi Jianren looked at his daughter. She'd been crazy and bloodthirsty since childhood. Sometimes he was even afraid that one day she'd grab him by the neck and make him suffer a thousand times what she had endured.

That was also why the Shen Corporation could never be handed to Shen Qiancheng—and why Shi Jianren was in such a hurry to marry her off.

Looking into Shen Qiancheng's eyes, Shi Jianren reluctantly gave in. "Fine, I agree. But you must get engaged first. Your birthday is in a few days. You'll turn eighteen. We'll settle the engagement at the coming-of-age ceremony."

Shen Qiancheng smiled brightly. "Whatever."

Shi Jianren stayed for dinner, much to Shen Qiancheng's displeasure. She sat at the farthest end from him, rudely stirring her soup with a spoon, making a clinking sound against the bowl again and again.

"If you're not going to eat, go back to your room," Shi Jianren said sternly.

As if granted a pardon, Shen Qiancheng said to Xiao Wang, "Bring it to my room."

Back in her room, she curled up on the sofa, sipping the soup. Without Shi Jianren's old face around, the soup tasted a trillion times better.

Just as she was enjoying it, a thunderous roar came from downstairs.

"AH! WHO TOUCHED MY SHAMPOO!!!"

Shen Qiancheng said with concern, "That sounds like Father. Go check what's happened to him."

Xiao Wang knew that when Shen Qiancheng spoke kindly, she was either scheming or about to scheme.

Xiao Wang smiled. "I'll wait until you finish your meal."

Shen Qiancheng set down her soup bowl and shrugged. "Then I'll go see for myself."

She left the room, turned left into the elevator. As the doors opened, she saw a very shiny, round object—with a pair of cold, harsh eyes staring at her.

Shen Qiancheng suppressed a smile and raised her hand in greeting. "Father, are you planning to become a monk?"

Shi Jianren, now clean-shaven, was red with suppressed rage. He launched into a barrage of accusations. "Shen Qiancheng, you did this again, didn't you?!"

He pointed at his shiny bald head, as if steam were shooting from his nostrils.

Shen Qiancheng said innocently, "What do you mean 'again'? Just because I'm home, you blame every bad thing on me?"

Shi Jianren clearly didn't believe her. He held up the object in his hand and demanded, "Isn't this yours?"

In his hand was a can with Japanese writing on it—depilatory cream.

Shen Qiancheng leaned in for a closer look, hesitated as if to speak, then said awkwardly, "I don't use such harsh stuff as depilatory cream. Father, where are you using it to remove hair?"

Shi Jianren only caught the first half. Shocked, he said, "This is depilatory cream!"

Shen Qiancheng said innocently, "Yes. Father, did you mistake the depilatory cream for shampoo?"

Shi Jianren was furious, squeezing the can as if he wanted to crush it to pieces.

On top of that, Shen Qiancheng's innocent but clearly scheming expression made Shi Jianren take several deep breaths, his face contorted with anger.

"Butler! Dig three feet into the ground if you have to, but find out who put depilatory cream in my bathroom!"

The butler wiped his sweat and kept saying, "Yes, sir."

This farce was far more entertaining than the last question on the college entrance exam.

Shen Qiancheng nearly wanted to applaud.

Half an hour later, Xiao Wang watched as Shen Qiancheng, dressed in a neat skirt suit with soft, shiny hair cascading down her back, chose shoes in the walk-in closet.

"Miss, where are you going?"

Shen Qiancheng said, "Embracing a Hundred Rivers."

Xiao Wang shuddered.

In the noisy bar, twisting, frenzied bodies filled the dance floor. A few people sitting at scattered tables received a phone call. After the caller hung up and confirmed, they cheered and told the bartender to open a private room.

Shen Qiancheng passed the identity check at the door, ignored the server's flattery, and found her way to the private room.

The noise inside was no less than the dance floor outside. Shen Qiancheng turned up the DJ's music and looked at the group sprawled on the sofas.

The first to notice her was Xiao Sui, who came over warmly and said, "You said you'd come yesterday but didn't. You missed the surprise we prepared."

Shen Qiancheng sat down, took a clean glass handed to her, and let someone else pour her a drink. Then, with a sharp glance, she poured out the baijiu.

"Wasn't I off on a blind date? Red wine. I don't drink baijiu."

Xiao Sui was surprised. "Blind date? Chengcheng, if I remember correctly, aren't you not even eighteen yet?"

Shen Qiancheng took a sip, and it tasted fine. She looked up at Xiao Sui. "You remember correctly. I'm getting engaged at my eighteenth birthday party. Make sure to come have fun. I'll have Xiao Wang send you an invitation."

Xiao Sui joked, "Xiao Wang isn't coming?"

Shen Qiancheng gave Xiao Sui a look and said irritably, "Last time you scared her. Now just hearing the name 'Embracing a Hundred Rivers' makes her tremble."

After drinking enough and having her fill of fun, Shen Qiancheng swiped her card to pay. Turning to Xiao Sui beside her, she said seriously, "Xiao Sui, find me a paternity testing agency."

Xiao Sui said, "Why do you want that? Another bastard? Your old man really is vigorous."

Shen Qiancheng took her card and raised an eyebrow. "An illegitimate daughter, and she's about my age."

Shi Jianren couldn't be trusted. What if he'd deliberately placed that document where she'd find it, just to make her lose her composure and agree to marry into the Su family?

Xiao Sui had done this many times. She held out her hand. "Give me the material. The results should be ready around your birthday."

Shen Qiancheng blinked, then pulled out a clump of hair from her handbag—so much that it could have come from a whole head.

Xiao Sui exclaimed softly, "That's a lot."

Shen Qiancheng didn't answer, just smiled.

Getting Shi Jianren's hair was easy for someone living under the same roof, but Shen Qiancheng wouldn't miss any chance to torment him.

Shen Qiancheng and Xiao Sui hailed a taxi on the roadside.

The driver gripped the wheel. "Where to, miss?"

Shen Qiancheng's eyes gleamed eerily in the night. She stared intensely at the light-polluted sky beyond the window.

"The cemetery west of the city."

The ride was silent.

At their destination, Shen Qiancheng climbed the steps. A cool evening breeze brushed her face. Aimless, she grew tired and stopped at random.

Xiao Sui followed her up the hill, feeling uneasy in the pitch-black surroundings. She blurted out, "Whose grave is this?"

Shen Qiancheng said casually, "Who knows."

Using the small light at the base of the headstone, Xiao Sui read the name engraved on it.

"An Ran? Who's An Ran?"

Xiao Sui's voice shattered in the lonely night wind.